THE FORGOTTEN GEAR

If you thought he only played Les Pauls, check out these amazing highlights from Slash's $2 million guitar collection

IF WE LIKE IT, IT MUST BE GOOD!

After their surprise, the top 5 debut album, Black Country, New Road delivers a more melodic follow-up. But as guitarist Luke Mark says: "I insisted on being louder than everyone else!"

I WANT TO STICK TO WHAT EXCITES ME RATHER THAN CONFORM TO WHAT'S POPULAR AT THE MOMENT. I'D RATHER KEEP IT ROCK 'N' ROLL.

Slash made his new album with Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators in just five days. He's also working on the long-awaited new Guns N' Roses record. But the guitar hero admits: "I'd be lying if I said I don't feel the pressure in this age of technical expression and fluidity..."

“I've Never Been Interested in Being Technically Good!”

Tom Dowse of art rockers Dry Cleaning plays by his own rules. His specialities: improvisation and guitar abuse

'The Thought of Playing on Stage Can Intimidate Me...

When Biffy Clyro made a triumphant return to the stage, frontman Simon Neil felt that he had rediscovered the meaning of life. Now, as part of TG’s 2022 Guitar Workout, he presents his guide to the art of rock guitar. How to make a Strat sound heavy. How to write in odd time signatures. How to prepare for playing live. And why there is still one pedal he can’t live without...

“Some people might see my Hydra guitar and think, ‘Vai, what a joke!'”

Steve Vai reveals all about his three-necked Hydra, how he invented a new technique he calls “joint-shifting”, and how he made a track from his new album using only one hand...

'A Legato Workout Changed My Life'

Mark Tremonti of Alter Bridge on the secret to fast picking, and the best fretting-hand exercise he ever learned

Andy Summers

From Jazz roots to worldwide fame with The Police, he developed a signature style that defined the post-punk era. “being a guitar player,” says Andy Summers, “is who I am.”

Icon of 2021 - Billy Gibbons

In a year when many legendary guitarists made fine music – from Steve Cropper to Carlos Santana – TG salutes Billy Gibbons, who dug deep in ZZ Top’s darkest hour

“I Feel More Like a Guitarist Than a Singer”

Courtney Barnett is the singer-songwriter who doesn’t identify as one. Her secret weapon: “My ‘guitarmonies’...”

“I Don't Believe in Perfection”

The power of Volbeat comes from Michael Poulsen’s mighty riffs. But as a self-taught player, he admits: “I’m pretty terrible at solos!”

'I MAINLY PLAY A JAZZMASTER – AND THAT'S IT!'

Singer-songwriter Nilüfer Yanya on beating the lockdown blues – and why one guitar can be enough.

'INSIDE PICKING WAS A BIG DISCOVERY FOR ME'

Dream Theater’s John Petrucci on game-changing exercises and creating a solo that “feels like you’re floating”

GUILD A-20 MARLEY

Bob Marley’s songwriting tool reinvented

My 2021 Jake Kiszka

Voted the number one guitarist of 2021 by TG readers, the Greta Van Fleet star discusses the art of the five-minute solo and explains why playing live is all the practice he needs...

My 2021 Josh Middleton

It was a great year for the Architects guitarist, as the band scored their first number one album and his latest signature model was launched

My 2021 Samantha Fish

Samantha Fish ventured out of the blues-rock box in search of new sonic territory with her genre-bending album Faster. She also found that lockdown helped her fall back in love with playing...

My 2021 Tash Sultana

This year saw the Australian singer-songwriter make an international breakthrough with the album Terra Firma. And yet, Tash says, “I’ve only really been recognised as a guitarist recently.”

Riffs of 2021

A truly outstanding year for heavy music saw these mammoth riffs make TG's top five...

Solos of 2021

From blues battles and shredding prog metal heroics to Nigerian psych-rock, these are 2021’s finest solos...

Songs of 2021

Albums are an artist’s grand statement, but a truly great song will always stand out...

50 The Beatles Greatest Guitar Songs

The Beatles – the greatest, biggest and most influential band of all time. No band has inspired more people to play guitar than Beatles.

JOHNNY HEALEY (JOHN)

“Lots of two-piece bands fall into the trap of being quite bluesy,” says Johnny Healey of the amusingly named John, “whereas we’ve always had a punk, hardcore influence. I don’t want to just play power chords – I want to play nice, pretty chords with sevenths in and stuff, but with loads of overdrive, and really fast!”

MAGICAL GEAR TOUR

The Beatles revolutionised popular music. Here are the main guitars and amps they used to do it...

10 GREAT BEATLES GUITAR MOMENTS YOU'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE

Wild slide guitar, flamenco-inspired rhythm, raw 12-bar blues and more - the inner workings of The Beatles revealed

“WE'D JUST HIT OUR GUITARS SOMETIMES. ACTUALLY HIT THEM!”

Wet Leg are creating a buzz with filthy songs and a novel approach to playing

“REALLY, IT'S JUST ONE EXTRA STRING...”

DREAM THEATER’S JOHN PETRUCCI ON HIS NEW EIGHT-STRING GUITAR AND THE CHALLENGE OF PLAYING IT

Carlos Santana

AS ONE OF THE MOST CELEBRATED GUITARISTS ON THE PLANET FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, HIS EPIC CAREER IS ALSO A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY.“SOME PEOPLE PRACTISE CHORDS OR THEORY,” SANTANA SAYS. “I PRACTISE MAKING MELODY BECOME ETERNAL...”

FENDER PLAYER TELECASTER AND STRATOCASTER PLUS

Fender’s Mexican series steps up with a premium line featuring expanded tones and bold finishes Are they worth the upgrade?

“THE CONCEPT OF RHYTHM GUITAR HAS BEEN LOST IN MODERN METAL.”

The new album from Trivium is a master-class in complex riffing and balls-out shredding. Guitarists Matt Heafy and Corey Beaulieu reveal how it was created – with what they call ‘organic improvisation’...